Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-01-23

At last, throwing OIL his reVerle Win 'io
full and unrestrained sigh OF n mar VINO
believes himself alone, he was startled by
the soft laugh Of Mrs. Hale, who had en-
tered the room unperceived.
''Dear me! How ~portentious! ReaIly,
7 almost feel rs il | were interruptlng u
tet.-a-tete between yourself and some old
flame Invent heard anything so ols-
fashioned and conservative IS that sign
since have been in California. Thought
Won never had any Past out here?'
Fortunately his face was between her
and the light, and the unuistakaole eN-
preston of annoyance and lmpatlence
which passed over it was spared her. Ihere
was. however, still enough dissopance III
his manner to affect her quick feminine
sense, and when she drew nearer to hin
II was with a certain maiden-like tlmldlty.
'You are not worse, Mr.. Lee, l hope:
You have not over exerted youTSelf?"
'sThere's little chance OF that with one
leo-if not in the grave ut least mummi-
fed with ~bandages," he replied, with a
bitterness new to him.
s.ShalI l loosen them? Perhaps they are
too tight. There is nothing so irritating
to one as the sensation OF being tightly
bound"
The light touch of her hand upon the
rug that covered his knees, the thoughtlni
tenderness of the blue veined lids, and the
delicate atmosphere that seemed to sur
round her like a perfume cleared his LACE
of its shadow and brought back the recS-
less fire into his blue eyes.
81 suppose Pm intolerant OF all bonds, "a
ne said, looking at her intently, in Others
as well rs myself
Whether or not she detected ony double
meaning i'll his words she was Obliged to
accept the challenge of his direct gaze ana,
raising her eyes to his, drew back q little
from him with q slight increase OF color.
II was afraid you heard Dad news just
now"
'What would you cali bad news?" asked
Lee, claSping his hands behind his head
and learning back on the sofa, but without
withdrawing his cyeS from her face.
..Ob. any news that would interrupt
your convalesceuce OF break up on little
family party" said Mrs. Hale. You
have been getting on so well that really II
would seem cruel to have anything inter
tere with our life Of forgetting and beIng
forgotten. But" she added with appre'
hensive thickness, has anything happen
ed? Is there really any news trOm-tron
the trails? Yesterday Mr.. Falkner sand the
snow had recommended in the pass. Has
he seen anything, noticed anything diller'
emit"
She looked so very pretty, with the rare,
genuine and youthful excitement thai
transtipured her wearied and wearing regll'
larity of feature. that Lee contented him
sell with drinking in her prettiness as nj
would have inhaled the perfume OF some
Hover. ,
why do You look at me so, Mr.. Lee
she asked, with a slight smile. Il believe
, something has happened. Mr.. Falkner h@
brought You some intelligence
: He has certainly found something
| did not forSee."
And that troubles you?'
1T does
rs it 4 ~Secret:'
: No"
Then | suppose you will tell it to mt
ot dinner " she said, with Il little tone o.
relief. .,
II am afraid if | tell it all must tel
il now" he said, CHANGING at the door.
"You must 10 rs you think best sht
, said, coldly, ''Gs it seems to he a secret
after ALL" She heSitated. Kate Is dress,
ing, and will not he down in some time,
/ so much the better. For | am afraid
that Ned has made a poor return To yOul
l hospitality by falling in love with her.
Impossible! lie has known her toT
=, scarcely a week"
| Il am afraid we wont agree rs to the
length OF time necessary to appreciate and
| love = woman. | think it can he done III
seven DAYS and four hours, the exact time
we nave been here"
''Yes; hut rs Kate was not III when you
| arrived. and did not come until later, you
must take of at least one hour, said Mrs,
Haleglyly. -,
..Ncd can. / shall not abate 4 second
But are You not mistaken i'll his feel
ingS?" she continued h%urriedly. lie Ger
l tainly has not said anything to her.
| THAT is his last hold on honor aud rea'
: son. And to preserve that little intact he
wants to run away at once.
"But that would be very silly
do YOU think sO?" he said, looking al
: her ixedly.
T WHY not?'' she asked in her turn, but
rather family.
; "Pu tell you why" he said, lowering
l his voice with n certain intensity OF pas
sion unlike his bOyish lightheartedneSs,
: "Think of 4 man whose life has been ono
I of alternate hardness and aggression, o
, savage disappointment and equally savage
l success, who has known no other relaXa
! ton than dissipation or e~Ntravagancei q
man to whom the idea of the domestic
hearth and family ties only meant weak
ness. effeminacy, or-wOrSe; who 4 look
4 ed for LOYALTY and devotion only in th'
man who battled for him at his right hant
: in danger, or shared his privatiOns ant
su~ffrrings. Think of such u man, and i'm
l agine that an accident has suddenly PLACED
, him in an atmosphere OF purity, gentle
i ness and peace, surrounded him by the re
inements of a higher life than he had eve
known, and that he found himself, rs in
!, dream, on terms Of equality with a pur'
woman who hal never known any othe
life and vet would understand and pity
: his. Imagine his loving her! Imagine
: that the first effect of that love was to show
! him his own inferiOrity and the immeasur
> able nUIl lllat IdN DtlNcth MS lit dh'
hers, Would he not fly rather than brave
T the disgrace of her awakening to the truth
l Would he not fly rather than accept even
, the pity that might tempt her to a Sacri
tice?'
! Butts Mr.. Falkner all that?'
l Nothing of the kind, | assure yOuH
-, said he demurely. But that's the way
, man i'm love feels"
l Really! Mr.. Falkner should get yOr
to plead his cause with Kate" said Mrs
q Hale with u faint laugh.
{ 81 need all my persuasive powers in tina
! way for myself" said Lee boldly.
Mrs. Hale rose. Il think | hear Kat
coming" she said. Nevertheless, she die
-, not move away. 1T is Kate coming, " sh,
: added hurriedly, STOPPING to pick up he
work basket, which had slipped with Lee
hand from her own.
; 1t wa Kate, who ut once flew to her sis
ter's assistance, Lee deplOriDg from th,
. sofa his own utter inability to aid her
ISI,'S oil nv f.ulf too - he said tn Kate